Commentary

Details of ALFRED FENNELL

Born: 1810

Died: 1897

Source: Chaplains in the HEICS 1836-58 (Rev Frank Perry, The Church In Madras 1904)

Biography: ALFRED FENNELL was born at Chelsea in 1810, being the fifth son of George Fennell of that place. He graduated B.A. from Queens College, Cambridge, in 1836. In 1835 he was ordained deacon at Chichester and served the curacy of Putten- ham in Surrey. In 1836 he was ordained priest at Ely, having obtained the curacy of St. Clement's, Ipswich, under his uncle, the Rev. J. P. Nottidge. He was appointed a Chaplain by the Hon. East India Company in 1837, and served the Company till 1862. During his service he officiated at Arcot, Cannanore, Mangalore, and Mercara (1842-45), Vizagapatam (1845-50), Ootacamund, Mercara (1852-62). After his retirement he settled near Mercara as a coffee planter. He was a man with a handsome presence and a charming manner. He had a practical and theoretical knowledge of architecture, and was keenly interested in the Church building which was going on in his time. He was almost entirely instrumental in the building of the Church at Mercara. He died at Mercara in 1897.